Hinged cover container



July 9, 1968 PASQUINE ET AL 3,391,780

HINGED CO V E R C O NTAINER Filed July 28, 1966 United States Patent 3,391,780 HINGED COVER CONTAINER Arthur R. Pasquine, Richmond, Va., Shy Rosen, New

York, N.Y., and Edward E. Wagner, Chester, Va., as-

signors to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, N.Y.,

a corporation of Virginia Filed July 28, 1966, Ser. No. 568,559 16 Claims. (Cl. 206-41) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure in its specific form concerns a thin walled plastic container of a size and shape such as to be adapted to receive the normal bundle of twenty cigarettes, the container comprising a body member and a cover member fitting telescopically over the body member, the two being permanently hinged together by a flap formed integral with one member and secured to the other by a hot melt adhesive, the flap in relaxed condition being inherently biased outwardly at a hinge line with respect to the member with which it is integrally formed, the material at the hinge line being weakened for more easily flexing at the hinge line.

The present invention relates to containers and is particularly concerned with a container comprising a cupshaped body member to which is hingedly connected a cup-shaped cover member, the latter telescopically fitting on top of the body member to close the container.

The container of the present invention is advantageously suited for packaging various articles, the character of which generally requires their being removed from the container in single unit quantity only at spaced apart times thereby involving subjecting the container to a corresponding number of openings and closings until all articles are removed therefrom. It is apparent that one particular use would be as a container for packaging cigarettes. For that purpose, the container can be made as a seamless structure from thermoplastic material and so designed that the cover member snugly fits the body member telescopically in such manner that the character of the package closure is and remains for all intents and purposes both relatively airtight and moistureproof after repeated openings and closings.

In accordance with the present invention, the container and the cover therefor can be generally cup-shaped members of rectangular or other suitable cross-section which lends itself to forming the members in suitable dies from a thermoplastic material in a deep draw operation. When used for a cigarette package, the container can have an overall oblong rectilinear shape, the body member thereof having an open end and being adapted to receive a wrapped bundle of cigarettes of the desired number with the cover member telescopically fitting over the open end of the body member. To that end, the body member may be provided with an upper section or neck portion of a recessed character to receive the cover member so the walls of the latter will in such case be set flush with the walls of the body member when closed. The cover member is affixed swingably to the rear of the body member by a suitable hinge means which may comprise a flap extending at the rear of either the cap member or the body member preferably made integral therewith and secured firmly to the other member by means of adhesive. In a preferred form as illustrated in the drawings the flap is engaged in a complemental recess in the other member and is secured by hot melt adhesive. An important feature of the manner of connecting the cover member with the body member is that a portion of the hot melt adhesive to caused to overrun the hinge flap receiving recess and onto the paper wrapping enclosing the bundle of cigarettes.

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Thus means also are provided to anchor the bundle of cigarettes securely within the body member. The container can be opened by swinging the cover member rearwardly relatively of the body member and about the hinge axis which is generally formed at the juncture of the flap and the body member with which it is made integral.

Various other objects, structural features and functional advantages will be made apparent by the description which follows and the illustrative examples depicted in the accompanying drawing. The invention accordingly comprises a container embodying the features of construction, and combination and relation of parts which will be exemplified in the container articles herein after described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container constructed according to the principles of the present invention, the cover member thereof being shown in a closed position;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an upper part of a preferred form of the body member which may be employed in the container shown in FIGURE 1 as viewed from the rear and as it appears just prior to the time the hinge flap is pressed against the body member and adhesively secured thereto;

FIGURE 3 is a partial perspective view of the upper part of the preferred form of the container body member FIGURES 1 and 2 as viewed from the front illustrating the recessed upper neck portion thereof over which telescopically fits the cover member.

FIGURE 4 is generally similar to FIGURE 3 except as viewed from the rear and illustrates the recessed part of the neck portion which receives the hinge flap made integral with the cover member as shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 depicting the cover member thereof in closed position with a bundle of cigarettes positioned in the body member and illustrating the manner in which the hinge flap made integral with the cover member is secured adhesively against the rear of the body member;

FIGURE 6 is the same as FIGURE 5 except it shows the cover member of the container in an open position;

FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 5 except it shows a modified form of construction wherein the hinge flap is made integral with the body member and the rear of the cover member is provided with a recess for receiving the hinge flap when adhesively securing the latter to the cover member;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the hinged cover secured to a body member which latter differs somewhat in construction in its upper portion from the body member shown in FIGURES 3 and 4; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a female die part which shows how the cover member may be for-med to have the desired shape, proportions and structural features.

Throughout the description like reference numerals are used to denote like parts in the drawing.

Representative forms of the container are described herein by way of example as being used as containers for cigarettes. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the container of the present invention has a wide range of uses particularly wherein the container is required to be lightweight, economical to make, suited for mass production manufacture and. capable of maintaining a tight closure to protect the articles therein from air and moisture even after being subjected to a number of openings and closings before the container is fully emptied. One form of the container is shown in FIGURES 1 through 7 from whence will be noted that container 10 is a body of generally oblong rectilinear shape having smoothly rounded corners as at 12 and comprises a cupshaped, open ended body member 14 and a cover member 16 therefor, the cover member 16 also being cup-shaped and being adapted to fit telescopically on the top of the body member 14. To provide for a telescopic fit of the cover member thereon, the body member 14 which has front and back walls 18, 20 respectively and a pair of opposed side or edge walls 22, 24, has an upper or neck portion 26 which is inset of the remainder of the body member structure, the inward demarcation being at a shoulder 28 extending completely around the body member (FIGS. 3 and 4). The degree to which the neck portion 26 is inset in this specific form of the invention is such as to provide that when the cover member 16 is in closed position, the outer surfaces thereof are substantially flush with the outer surfaces of the main structure of the body member 14.

An important feature of the container is that the outside dimensions of the body member neck portion 26 are substantially equal to the inside dimensions of the cover member 16 as measured between corresponding surfaces. The dimensions of the container may vary considerably depending upon various factors including the intended use. In a typical case where the container is for a bundle of filter cigarettes the dimension of the neck portion 26 as measured from the outside of side wall portion 22a to the outside of side wall portion 24a is about 2.145 inches for a container designed to hold a wrapped bundle 30 of filter cigarettes and the neck dimension as measured from the outside of front wall portion 18:: to the outside of rear wall portion 20a is about .900 inch. Since corresponding inside dimensions of the cover member 16 are substantially equal to the neck dimensions enumerated, there is provided a very tight fit of the cover member 16 on the body member 14 when the cover member is in closed position. The character of the fit is such that the container is relatively airtight and moistureproof. In the described embodiment, the wall thickness of the body member may for example range between about 0.010 to 0.015 of an inch. The wall thickness of the cover member will usually be little thicker as for example in the range of .012 to .020 of an inch. For clarity the wall thicknesses as shown in the drawings are somewhat greater than in actual practice.

The container body member 14 can be formed with an arrangement of vertical ribs 32 extending over its major surfaces. The ribs 32, inter alia, strengthen the body member structure, enhance its appearance and provide a gripping surface with which the user can firmly grasp the container when opening and closing same. The body member 14 also may have smooth faced panels 34, 36, 38 formed therein to which labels, trademark or other proprietary marks of the manufacturer and like indicia can be applied. These markings also may be embossed or formed in the material at the time the body member is drawn. A similar smooth panel 40 may be provided on the cover member 16 for the same purpose. When the container 10 is used for holding cigarettes, it is preferable that the cigarettes, for example twenty filter cigarettes, first be wrapped in a foil covered paper wrapping 42 to form an oblong rectilinear bundle 30. The bundle is then inserted in the body member. As a consequence of this use, the front and rear parts of the body member neck portion 26 are provided with cut-out areas as at 44 and 46 respectively. The cut-out areas 44 and 46 are of the generally slotted configuration shown and taper downwardly and inwardly from the side wall portions and each terminates in a substantially horizontally extending edge as at 48 and 50 respectively. The front cut-out area 48 is preferably made somewhat deeper than the corresponding rear cut-out area 50 so as to give more ready access to the user when tearing open the cigarette bundle wrapper 42 as well as when removing cigarettes. The container 10 can be made in a number of ways. However the present invention contemplates that it be made of thermoplastic material and its component members formed as seamless structures with a deep draw forming operation utilizing suitable forming dies against which thermoplastic sheet stock can be drawn to shape the respective members. The deep draw operation is particularly useful in forming the body member. The cover member may be made by other methods as by injection molding. The United States Patent No. 3,167,104 discloses the general principles of a forming method suited to the purpose. The use of a deep draw forming operation is particularly suited for shaping lightweight, inexpensive throwaway type containers, which, however, have a degree of rigidity and flexibility and ability to restore their shape. Thermoplastics useful for making the container may include those based upon polystyrene, ethyl cellulose, polyethylene and polypropylene. A preferred composition is one of a polstyrene having incorporated therein a rubber compound grafted onto the molecule and also which incorporates a color pigment.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, the body member 14 and cover member 16 are hingedly connected with each other. An important feature of the invention is the char acter and shape of the cover and the manner in which the connection is accomplished. It involves providing a hinge flap on one member and securing it to the other. Thus, in the container embodiment of FIGURES 2 and 5, the hinge flap 52 is formed integral with the rear wall 54 of the cover member 16. The juncture of the hinge flap and the rear wall 54 of the cover member is as best seen in FIGURE 5, a frontally directed, arcuate or V-shaped section 56 extending the full length of the juncture and constituting a clearly defined hinge line or axis about which the cover member swings. The hinge fiap 52 is preferably provided with a series of ribs or corrugations 58 extending along the major axis thereof and which serve the purpose of strengthening the hinge flap to withstand the stresses applied thereto particularly in forcing it down onto the wall of the body member. As was previously mentioned and as shown in the form of FIGURES 1 to 5, the cover member 16 is intended to fit telescopically over the body member 14 thereby resulting in the outer surfaces of each being flush and giving the closed container a smooth, even outer configuration. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 4, the rear of the neck portion 26 of body member 14 has a segment 60 which conforms in outline with that of the hinge flap 52 and in which the hinge flap is adhesively secured, the segment 60 being so located and the cover member being so shaped that the hinge axis 56 will lie well below the top of the body member 14. Preferably, as shown, the ends of the flap 52 and of the recess 60 are inclined downwardly toward each other, and the ribs 58 are progressively shorter from the top down corresponding to the progressively shorter length of the flap in horizontal direction.

The character and detail shapes and proportions of the cover member may be more clearly understood from the manner in which it is molded, as illustrated in FIGURE 9. The female die mold 70, shown in cross-section, has the cavity 71 into which the cover 72 is formed as by a drawing operation including suitable suction or venting ports (not shown) through the mold walls. As in the other figures the wall thickness of the cover is somewhat exaggerated for clarity. It will be noted, as indicated in the adjoining cavity 71 that the mold has a V-shaped rib 73 adapted to define the hinge line. This protrudes a short distance, in the range for example of .015 to 0.30 of an inch, and having an included angle of about 60 to As a result of the drawing operation, in the area of the cover hinge line at the rib 73 the thickness of the plastic material is reduced and is somewhat less than that of the cover walls in general. Also it will be noted the groove or V-shape is directed inwardly of the cover and body members when assembled. These factors result in a sharply defined hinge line and one at which flexing easily occurs as the cover is swung in the opening direction as indicated in FIGURE 6. On the other hand, because the rib is inclined upwardly on the bottom face it offers little resistance to removal of the cover member from the mold.

As a further feature of the mold and manner of forming the cover member the wall portion 74 on which is formed the hinge flap 52 is inclined outwardly with re- Spect to the vertical rear wall 54 at a suitable angle which may be for example in the range of 30. This results in the hinge flap having a corresponding angular position, such I as shown in FIGURE 6, when removed from the mold and in relaxed condition and aids in the assembly of the cover member to the body member by automatic machinery, and renders it easier to lift the tab to a right angle position to the container for the application of adhesive. Furthermore, because it is inherently biased outwardly at the hinge line it serves as a means for detecting possible failure of the adhesive bond on a particular container. With an insecure bond the flap will tend to pop open wholly or in part. The inclined wall portion 74 of the mold is provided with grooves 75 which result in the reinforcing ribs 58 on the hinge flap. Because of the inclination of the wall portion 74 these ribs do not offer any resistance to the ready withdrawal of the cover member from the mold.

The manner in which the cover member 16 is secured to the body member 14 can be understood better by referring to FIGURE 5. The hinge flap 52 as formed and be fore being secured to the body member preferably extends outwardly from the cover member at some angle such as an acute angle as above described, but at the time of application of adhesive is bent to at least 90 to the back wall as shown in dashed lines in FIGURE 5. After the body member 14 has been filled with a wrapped bundle of cigarettes 30, a thin ribbon, band or strip of hot melt adhesive 80 is applied across the expanse of the flap receiving segment 60 of the rear of the body member 14. The hinge flap 52 is then pressed against the ribbon of adhesive 80 which when it sets holds the cover and body members in a permanent connection therebetween. The hot melt adhesive 80 is applied to the neck portion 26 in such manner and in such proximity to horizontal edge 50 of the cut-out area 46 that initially, or when the hinge flap 52 is pressed thereagainst (to the position shown in full lines), a portion of the adhesive 80 will flow over the edge and against the cigarette wrapper as at 81. Thus, the hot melt adhesive in addition to connecting the cover and body members serves as a means for firmly anchoring the wrapped bundle of cigarettes 30 within the body member 14.

Hot melt adhesive as used herein is intended to denote a bonding agent which achieves a solid state and resulting strength by cooling as distinguished from an ad hesive which achieves a solid state through, for example, evaporation of a solvent. A hot melt adhesive is characterized by its providing nearly instantaneous bonding, especially when used for joining previously uncemented or smooth impermeable surfaces. A wide range of materials can be employed as hot melt adhesives as for example natural and synthetic waxes and resins including mineral, vegetable and petrolemum waxes; alkyds, terpene resins, heat-stable phenol-formaldehyde resins, and rosin and its derivatives. The strength of these materials can be enhanced by blending them with higher weight polymers including ethyl cellulose, polyvinyl acetate and derivatives thereof, butyl methacrylates, polyethylene, polystyrene and styrene copolymers, and polyisobutylene. Liquid plasticizer also can be incorporated in the adhesive. The holt melt adhesive can be applied in various ways as by means of a nozzle, wheel applicator or spray device. It has been found advantageous, however, to apply the ribbon of adhesive to the body member 14 with a nozzle having a relatively long narrow width orifice.

In the container 85 shown in FIGURE 7, the hinge flap 86 is made as an integral part of the body member 87. In this instance, the hinge flap 86 generally has the same planar outline as that previously described. However, instead of providing a recess at the rear of the neck portion of the body member 87 to receive the hinge flap 86, a recess 88 is formed in the cover member 89 at the rear thereof near the bottom. To secure the hinge flap 86 to cover member 89, it is swung from the position shown in solid lines against the layer of hot melt adhesive 90 previously applied into the recess 88 of the cover member.

FIGURE 8 shows the cover member applied to a body member which dilfers in shape at the upper portion from the body member 14 of FIGURES 2 to 5. In this case the body member 95 is representative of one in which the upper part was initially formed with an inset band 96 extending entirely around the top as defined by the slight shoulder 97, and the extreme top edge 98 extended at uniform height entirely around the body member. Then for the purposes of the present invention the front and back walls are cut down forming the cut-out areas 100 and 101. These areas may be identical whereby the body member is symmetrical and as a manufacturing convenience the cover member may be applied at either major wall. The cover member 16' may be the same as that of FIGURE 2 and similarly applied. In the closed position it is adapted to fit down over the slight shoulder indicated at 102.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since certain changes may be made in the above articles and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained herein shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a body member and a cover member each cup-shaped and said body member being of thin drawn seamless thermoplastic material, said cover member having a permanent hinge connection to said body member and in closed position engaged telescopically over the open end of said body member, said hinge connection comprising a flap formed integral with one of said members at the rear thereof and .adhesively secured to the rear of the other member.

2. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which said flap is provided with a hinge line formed by a narrow line indented inwardly and of reduced thickness with respect to the average wall thickness of the members.

3. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which said flap is formed integrally with said cover member.

4. A container in accordance with claim 3 in which said cover member is of seamless thermoplastic material and said hinge flap is inherently biased outwardly at the hinge line away from the container.

5. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which said flap is for-med integrally with said body member.

6. A container comprising a body member and a cover member each cup-shaped and said body member being of drawn seamless thermoplastic material, said cover member having a hinge connection to said body member and in closed position engaged telescopically over the open end of said body member, said hinge connection comprising a flap formed integral with the cover member and extending down a back surface of the body member and being secured thereto by a hot melt adhesive.

7. A cigarette package comprising a body member and a cover member each cup-shaped and of thermoplastic material, said body member having a back wall with a cut out area extending downwardly'from the top edge, a bundle of cigarettes enclosed in a wrapper within said body member, said cover member having a permanent hinge connection to the back wall of said body member and in closed position engaged telescopically over the open end of said body member and said bundle of cigarettes, said hinge connection comprising a flap integral with and extending downwardly from the back wall of said cover member, and secured to said back wall of the body member by adhesive, a portion of said adhesive extending through said cut-out portion in the back wall of the body member into contact with said wrapper thereby securing said bundle within said body member.

8. A cigarette package in accordance with claim 7 in which the cover member flap is secured to the body memher by means of a band of hot melt adhesive applied across the back wall of the body member, a portion of said band of adhesive extending over the bottom of said cutout portion onto said wrapper.

9. A container of oblong rectilinear shape comprising a body member and a top cover member each of cupshaped thin thermoplastic material with front and back walls and opposed side Walls respectively, said members having a permanent hinge connection at their back walls with the cover member in closed position engaged over the top open end of said body member, the upper portion of said body member over which said cover member in closed position is engaged being inset inwardly at the front, back and side walls, and said cover member being shaped and dimensioned to engage closely said inset areas when closed, said hinge connection comprising a flap formed integrally with the back wall of one of said members and adhesively secured to the back wall of the other member.

10. A container in accordance with claim 9 in which said members are of drawn seamless thermoplastic material.

-11. A container in accordance with claim 9 in which the flap is integral with the back wall of the cover portion and is adhesively secured in an inset recess area in the back wall of said body member.

12. A container in accordance with claim 9 in which the hinge line about which the cover member may be swung is below the top of the body member.

13. A container in accordance with claim 9 in which the adhesive is of the hot melt type.

14. A cigarette package comprising a body member and a top cover member each of cup-shaped drawn seamless thermoplastic material with front and back walls and opposed side walls respectively, a bundle of cigarettes enclosed in a wrapper within said body member, said members having a permanent hinge connection at their back walls with the cover member in closed position engaged telescopically over the top open end of said body member, said back wall of the body member having a cut down central area below the top edge of the body member with the hinge line about which the cover member may be swung being located at the bottom of said central area, the upper portion of said body member over which said cover member in closed position is engaged being inset inwardly at the front, back and side walls, and said cover member being shaped and dimensioned to engage closely said inset areas when closed, said hinge connection comprising a flap formed integrally with the back wall of said cover member positioned in an inset portion of the back wall of the body member located below said cut down central area of the back wall. said flap being adhesively secured in position with the adhesive extending in part through said out down central area into contact with said wrapper thereby securing said bundle within said body member.

15. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which said flap is provided with a hinge line of weakened character with relation to the adjoining areas of the member to which it is attached thereby rendering the flap more easily bent at said hinge line.

16. A container in accordance with claim 1 in which the adhesive is of the hot melt type.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,164 4/1948 :Beckwith 206-41 2,483,304 9/1949 Vogel 206-41 X 2,954,867 10/ 1960 Tacke 206-41 JAMES B. MARBERT, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS G. MANCENE, Examiner. 

